Animal-trap.



No. 636,90l. Patented Nov. [4, I899. J. J. JOHNSON.

ANIMAL TRAP.

(Application filed Aug. 9, 1899.)

No Model.)

7 F 1aj k 2% as m: Noam: PETERS 00.. momurnow wAsmNaroN. o. c.

JOSHUA J. el OHNSON, OF ELMVIEVV, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

$PEGIFIGAI'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,901, datedNovember 14, 1899.

Application filed August 9, 1 8 9 9.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA J. J OHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elmview,in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in animal-traps.

The Object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofanimal-traps and to provide a sim ple, inexpensive, and efficient onedesigned to be constructed of various sizes and adapted for capturingall kinds of animals attracted by a bait and capable of preventing thecaptured animal from obtaining access to the bait, so that the latterwhen alive will not be injured or when otherwise will not be consumed. vi

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a trap constructed inaccordance with this invention. tional view. view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

ldesignates a box or casing rectangular in section and provided at itsfront with ways 2, in which is arranged a vertically-movable door 3,located in advance of an opening or entrance 4 and adapted when thetrigger mechanism is operated to fall by gravity and close Fig. 2 is alongitudinal see- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional the entrance, wherebythe animal operating the trigger mechanism is confined within the box orcasing. The vertically-movable door is provided at its top with a loop6, attached to a connection 7, extending longitudinally of the trap tothe trigger mechanism and consisting of front and rear flexible portions7 and 8 and an intermediate wire or rod 9, which is provided for thepurpose of preventing rats and other animals from gnawing and therebybreaking or otherwise injuring the connection. The front flexibleportion 7 passes over a guide 10, consisting of a rod secured toextensions 11 of the ways and provided with a Serial No. 726,702. (Nomodem central bend for the reception of the connection 6. The rearflexible portion 8 extends through a perforation 12 of the top of thebox or casing and is secured to a hook or catch which forms a part ofvthe setting and tripping mechanism.

The setting and tripping mechanism consists of the'hook or catch 13, arod 14, hinged at one end and having its other end arranged to engage atreadle 15, and the latter constitutes the other part of the setting andtripping mechanism. The treadle 15, which is hinged at its rearor innerend, is bifurcated, as shown, and is provided with a lug or catch 16,arranged at the inner end of the rear bifurcation and adapted to engagethe free end of the rod 14;, whereby the catch or hook which engages therod is anchored to set the trap. The catch or hook when in engagementwith the rod 14 maintains the door 3 in an elevated position, and ananimal attempting to obtain access to the bait will depress the treadleand trip the trap, and thereby close the door. The treadle is hinged toa block or support 17, which is provided with a recess, into which thetreadle drops when it is depressed by the weight of the animal.

The track is provided at the back with a cage 18, forming abait-receptacle and located in rear of the block or support to which thetrigger is hinged, and this cage is formed by a longitudinal partition19 and a verticallymovable swinging door 20, mounted in suitable ways 21and adapted to be withdrawn through an opening of the top of the box orcase. The partition 19, which extends along the trap near the centerthereof, forms a run or passage located opposite the entranceopening ofthe trap and adapted to direct an animal to the bait.

.Either live orinanimate bait may be provided, and as it is arrangedwithin the cage or bait-receptacle it is impossible for the capturedanimal to obtain access to it, and it does not have to be renewed.

The box or casing is provided at its top with a movable screen 22,mounted in transverse ways 23 and forming a light to illumine theinterior of the trap, which, may, if desired, be darkened by a board 24,adapted to be arranged over the screen, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3of the accompanying drawings.

The screen is secured by a movable fastening device consisting of a pin25, passing through a perforation of the top screen 22 and engaging asocket of the adjacent side wall of the box or casing. The Ways 23consist of strips secured to the top of the box or casing at oppositesides of a transverse opening and overhanging the same, and the board isadapted to be arranged between the strips. The strips project over thesides of the top screen and retain the same in place. When the fasteningdevice is removed,the top screen may be readily withdrawn from the Waysto affordaccess to the interior of the trap for setting or baiting thesame. The captured animals may be conveniently emptied into a bag placedat the entrance of the trap. The screen-door of the cage is provided atits top with a handle to enable it to be readily withdrawn from the boxor casing. The trap, which may be constructed either of wood or metal,is designed when constructed of wood to be reinforced at the door byhoop or sheet iron to protect it and prevent rats and other animals fromgnawing out of the trap.

It will be seen that the trap is simple and comparatively inexpensive inconstruction, that it is exceedingly sensitive and positive and reliablein operation, and that it is adapted for capturing all kinds of animalsattracted by live or inanimate bait.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details ofconstruction within the scope of the appended claims maybe resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof this invention.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A trap comprising a box or casing having anentrance-opening, a vertically-movable door, a connection extendingrearward from the door and passing downward through the top of the trap,a vertical catch depending from the rear end of the connection, adepressible treadle mounted within the box or casing, and asubstantially horizontal rod hinged at one end and having its other endfree and arranged to be engaged by the treadle, said rod engaging thecatch at a point between its ends, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. A trap comprising a box or casing having an entrance-opening, alongitudinal par tition forming a passage or run, a sliding screen-doorextending across the passage or run and forming a bait-receptacle, averticall y-movable door arranged at the entranceopening, setting andtripping mechanism located within the box or casing, and connectionsbetween the door and the setting and tripping mechanism, substantiallyas described.

3. Atrap comprisingacasing provided with an entrance-opening and havingan opening at its top and provided at opposite sides thereof with ways,a vertically-movable door arranged at the entrance-opening, setting andtripping mechanism located within the box or casing and connected withthe door, a removable top screen mounted in the ways at the top opening,and a board or cover arranged over the screen and adapted to be removed,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSHUA J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J. K. P. BOWEN, II. A. HOLLIDAY.

